WHARFEDALE father and son, Francis and James Caton, of Weston Hall Farm, Weston, made it a memorable hat-trick of wins in the 20s show class when successfully defending their 2020 and 2021 championship successes at Skipton Auction Mart’s second annual gimmer lamb show and sale on behalf of members of the North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA). (Tues, Sept 20)

Their title-winning lambs, by N1 and L1 Weston, F1 Low Tipalt and Dunhow tups, were knocked down for £152 each, the Catons following up with the third prize pen of same way-bred 20s, which made £140.

They were also among the prizes for the highest flock averages. Of those consigning 100 or more lambs, the Catons finished third best when selling a total of 230 lambs to average £128.80 per head.

While an overall selling average of £115.87 for 5,346 head was £2.25 down on the previous year trade was seen to better than expectations.

It proved especially so for the runners, with plenty of lambs selling well to a large gathering of regular buyers. from Kent to Cornwall, South Wales and through the Midland counties up to Derbyshire. In fact, a lot of these medium and smaller types were not too dissimilar to last year’s selling prices, with nice dark headed and bonny running lambs in very high demand, while a lighter headed lamb with a good frame was also good to sell with farmers looking for these to include in flocks.

The pre-sale show was extremely competitive, with 16 pens of ten and nine pens of 20 put before the adjudicators. Show sponsors were Armstrong Watson Accountants, NFU Mutual. Carr’s Billington and WBW Surveyors, the latter three all based at the mart.